Google: Only Certain Smartwatches Can Upgrade to the Next-Gen Wear OS

After Google and Samsung introduced they had been partnering to construct a brand new Wear OS, the largest unanswered query was whether or not present smartwatches would have the ability to improve to the platform. Today, Google clarified which smartwatches can be eligible in a Wear OS support forum—and if you happen to’ve acquired an older Android watch working on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 3100 chip, you would possibly need to begin serious about your choices.

But first, the submit additionally reveals that the unified platform will formally be referred to as Wear OS 3—a godsend to tech journalists who’ve run out of how to jot down “new Wear OS.” Samsung and Fossil have stated their upcoming watches will run Wear OS 3, however upgrades for different eligible gadgets gained’t arrive till mid-2022 on the earliest.

“User experience is a top priority for us and we are excited about the interest we’ve received on Wear OS 3, the new unified platform,” Google wrote. “For the previous generation of Wear OS smartwatches, a system update to Wear OS 3 will bring the benefit of many of the new experiences, and in some limited cases, the user experience will be impacted.”

That earlier era of watches eligible to improve to Wear OS 3 contains Mobvoi’s GPS and LTE TicWatch Pro 3, the TicWatch E3, future TicWatch gadgets, in addition to the following era of Fossil smartwatches. All of those are, or might be, 4100-powered smartwatches. That doesn’t bode effectively for Snapdragon Wear 3100 smartwatches, particularly since Fossil has confirmed its present 3100 smartwatches will not be upgraded.

Upgrading to Wear OS 3 would require eligible smartwatch house owners to reset their gadgets to manufacturing unit settings. The firm stated it’ll present additional particulars earlier than the replace.

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The firm additionally emphasised that the present model of Wear OS isn’t going anyplace, because it anticipates many Wear OS smartwatch house owners will not be eligible to improve or need to improve instantly. Google additionally stated it’s dedicated to bringing “new app experiences” to Wear OS, pointing to current updates to the Play Store and Gboard. More updates like these are purportedly on the way in which. Crucially, it lastly clarified that present Wear OS smartwatches will obtain safety updates for no less than two years from the machine’s launch.

It was clear that the transition from Wear OS to Wear OS 3 was going to be a journey. As I’ve written many instances earlier than, there’s merely no straightforward method to fully overhaul or replace any platform. (See: Sonos’ dealing with of its legacy merchandise.) In the case of Wear OS, an open ecosystem led to a fragmented house that couldn’t actually thrive due to Qualcomm’s outdated and outclassed Snapdragon Wear chipsets. This additionally isn’t one thing that simply began in 2021. Google’s renewed push into wearables arguably started in early 2019, when it purchased $40 million value of Fossil tech.

Today’s announcement, and up to date information that Qualcomm is planning to launch a brand new Snapdragon Wear platform within the subsequent 12 months, trace that when once more it’s going to boil right down to {hardware} and endurance. By noting that some person experiences could also be impacted, it’s doubtless that even the 4100 platform will not be fitted to every thing Wear OS 3 is bringing. This bears out if you happen to look at the 4100’s specs. In the 12 months 2021, when firms are gearing as much as soar from 5nm to 3nm course of tech for his or her smartwatch chips, the 4100 nonetheless is determined by historic 12nm course of tech. It’s a major enchancment from the 28nm 3100, but it surely’s been over 5 years since 14nm and 12 nm chips had been thought-about “new.” Unfortunately, Google doesn’t management what {hardware} is on the market for Android smartwatches. That’s on Qualcomm.

So is Wear OS 3 doomed from the get-go? No. A doubtlessly bumpy transition is a foul purpose to prematurely write off Wear OS 3. Growing pains are inevitable, but it surely’s really a great signal we’re discovering out about eligibility nearly a 12 months prematurely. Now we all know what to anticipate, there appears to be a real dedication to long-term enchancment, and customers have time to see what is going to work finest for them.

There’s one other essential distinction this time round: Samsung. For its next-gen Galaxy Watches, Samsung has reportedly developed an Exynos chip that’s exponentially extra highly effective than any Snapdragon chipset Qualcomm’s ever made. This is an enormous purpose why Samsung’s smartwatches will most likely be a extra correct gauge of Wear OS 3’s potential than 4100-powered smartwatches. We’ll should see what comes out of Qualcomm’s overdue efforts to make a chip that isn’t trash.

For customers, this implies you’ve acquired to scrutinize the processor powering your subsequent Android smartwatch. Do not, I repeat, don’t purchase a brand new Snapdragon Wear 3100 smartwatch—even when the reductions are tempting. If you’ve already acquired a 3100-powered watch, you will have a few choices. The best is to carry onto your watch, keep on the present Wear OS, and scope out new choices as they turn out to be out there. Or, if that you must improve sooner, go for considered one of Samsung’s next-gen smartwatches or a fairly priced 4100-powered smartwatch. In any case, you don’t should make this choice now. A reminder: Upgrades gained’t be out there for present watches till mid-2022 or later. You’ve acquired loads of time to mull it over.